Six injured in most recent Shockoe Bottom shooting

A shooting early Saturday morning at Liquid Cafe in Shockoe Bottom left six people injured, five of whom were wounded by gunshot.

Richmond police said two gunmen came into the restaurant at 5 a.m. Saturday morning with their faces covered. The gunmen proceeded to announce they were robbing the store and opened fire on the people inside.

This shooting came just four days after another shooting in Shockoe Bottom at PLUSH Restaurant and Lounge, which left three people injured with gunshot wounds.

Some VCU students are concerned with the recent rise in violent crimes in the area.

“I don’t feel safe,” VCU junior Malik Terry said. “We go to these places to have fun and mingle with our peers without fear of having something terrible happening to us. It makes you not want to go out because you fear your life could be even more at risk.”

Police said they are unsure as to why Liquid Cafe was operating at 5 a.m. when the restaurant’s listed operating hours are only until 3 a.m.

The Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority is currently investigating the incident to see if its action is necessary. Liquid Cafe is licensed by Virginia ABC to sell beer and other mixed-alcoholic beverages, but because the restaurant is not registered as a private club, they are not permitted to sell alcohol past 2 a.m.

RPD is currently looking at ways to reduce the crime rate in Shockoe Bottom. So far this year, 11 people have been shot and four people have been stabbed.

“I am certain that we can all agree that this increasing gun violence in Shockoe Bottom is unacceptable,” said Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham. “This cannot be the norm.”

Logan Reardon, Contributing Writer